Document-file



No. s|8,s2|. Patented Feb. 7, I899. A. c. BARLER.

nocumENT FILE.

(Application filed Apr. 16, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES V INV 'ENTOR QMZZZL 6 w M 67 Q; flygl g" No. 6l8,82l. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

- A. C. BARLER.

DOCUMENT FILE.

(Application filed Apr 16, 1898.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L VVENTOR J M rams NITE

AUGUSTUS C. BARLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DOCUMENT-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,821, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed April 16, 1893.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS C. BARLER, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Document-Files and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use th same.

My invention relates to an improvement in document-files, one object of the invention being to provide simple and efficient means whereby to quickly and securely bind pockets between suitable covers and permit their ready removal and to allow additional pockets to be added, if desired.

A further object is to provide a documentfile with a simple and efiicient automaticallyadjustable fastener.

A further object is to provide a documentfile with a case or backing which shall be substantial and durable and which shall serve to effectively protect the pocket.

A further object is to produce a documentholder which shall be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, easy to handle and manipulate, and which shall be effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

With these objects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts,as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of my improved file in its closed position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the file closed. Fig. 5 is a view of a slight modification.

A B representthe backs ofv the file, which constitute the casing thereof, and each back is preferably made of sheet metal and provided at its edges with flanges 1, which serve to protect the pockets disposed between said backs or covers and also to stiffen the latter.

Pockets C are disposed between the backs or covers A B, and each pocket is preferably made of heavy paper and may be conveniently made in the form of a large official envelop having a metallic eye 2 in each lower or inner corner. Through the eyes 2 cords Fig. 2 is a View showing the file open.

Serial No. 677,853. (No model.)

3 are threaded, one end of each cord passing also through eyes or holes in the lower or inner corners of the back or cover A and provided with knots 4, whereby to prevent them from being pulled entirely through said eyes or holes. The free ends of the two cords are also passed through eyes or holes 5 in the lower or inner corners of the back or cover B. The cords are then extended toward each other and passed through holes or eyes 6 near the center of the lower edge of the back or cover B. The ends of the cords are then crossed on the inner face of back or cover B and then passed outwardly through the eyes or holes 6, and the free ends of said cords may then be wound one or more times around the portions of the cords disposed parallel with the outer face of the back or cover B, it being understood that the end of one cord will be wound on the other cord. In this manner the cords will be properly held and prevented from slipping by frictional contact with the eyes or holes in the back or cover B through which they pass and also the frictional contact of one cord with the other.

The cover B is provided with an ear 7, to which one member 8 of a spring-catch is secured. The other or female member of the spring-catch is secured to a strap 9, held in a pocket 10, secured to the back or cover A.'

When the file is closed, the strap will be made to extend transversely across the edges of the 1 files and the female member of the catch made to engage the male member thereof, and thus the file will be held closed. By bending the strap at right angles to the edge of the back or cover A and the pocket in which said strap is contained in the act of uniting the parts of the catch the frictional contact of said strap with the edge of the back or cover A will serve, in effect, to lock it against outward movement. As the file expands by the accumulation of documents in the pockets and the backs or covers in consequence recede from each other the fastening device can be readily made to compensate for such increase in thickness of the file by merely pulling the strap outwardly, so that a sufficient amount thereof will project beyond the edge of the back or cover A to extend to the back or cover B, and in all cases the strap will be effectuadjusted by frictional contact with the edge of the back or cover A, as above explained.

My improvements are very simple in construction, comprise few parts, are cheap to manufacture, are durable and substantial, and are effectual in all respects in the performance of their functions.

Instead of fastening the ends of the lacingcords in the manner above explained the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 may be adopted. In this form of the invention a continuous cord is fastened to one back or cover and passed through eyelet-holes at each end (about onehalf inch apart) in the other cover, the inter mediate portion of said cord being disposed against the inner face of the last-mentioned back or cover and entirely out of sight.

Other slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what i I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A file comprising two metallic backs or covers and interposed pockets, said backs or covers and pockets having alined holes at their rear corners and one of said backs having holes at its rear edge intermediate of the ends thereof, and a cord fastened to one back or cover, passed through said alined holes and having the free ends thereof passed through the holes between the ends of one of said backs or covers, whereby to retain the file closed, substantially as set forth.

2. A file comprising two backs or covers each having inwardly-projecting flanges at its edges, pockets disposedbetween said backs or covers, cords passing through said backs or covers and secured to one of them, and eyelets intermediate of the ends of the other back or cover, said cords passing through said eyelets and holding the file closed by frictional contact with said eyelets, substantially as set forth.

3. A document-file comprising two backs or covers, pockets disposed between said backs or covers, cords fastened to one of said backs or covers, passing through the pockets and through eyes in the other back or cover, two of said eyes being located at the ends of the back or cover and two at the center thereof,

and both cords being passed through each centact with the edge of the said back or cover,

and a catch connecting said strap with the other back or cover, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS C. BARLER. Witnesses:

E. A. PETTIBONE, A. C. MCCARTHY. 

